'American Idol' Season Three Finalist Jon Peter Lewis Teams Up With Authentic Records

 

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Jon Peter Lewis, the first singer to bring rock 'n' soul to "American Idol," is joining forces with the independent roots rock label Authentic Records.

 

Jon will promote his debut record, "Stories From Hollywood," which features the hit title track and infectious singles "If I Go Away," "Turn to Grey" and his latest, "Boy Next Door," on tours with veteran Authentic artists such as the Nadas and the Josh Davis Band. The label will also distribute the album, which Lewis self-released on his birthday, November 7, 2006.

 

"I'm a big fan of the Authentic roster and I can't wait to get out and meet their fans," Lewis said. "It's really a good fit and I look forward to a great relationship."

 

"We are thrilled to be working with Jon," Authentic co-founder Jason Walsmith added. "Honestly, I never even saw him on 'American Idol.' I just heard his record and loved his voice and his songwriting."

 

Lewis, best known as JPL on "Idol," cashed in his college loans to audition for "Idol" in Hawaii, where his rendition of Van Morrison's "Crazy Love" got him through. He went on to win the audience vote in wildcard week after his take on Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation," a performance MTV News called "one of the most memorable in 'Idol' history."

 

Lewis' wide vocal range and uninhibited stage personality eventually prompted Simon Cowell to call him "the dark horse to win the competition," Rolling Stone to peg him as a "pick to win" and Elton John to praise his "excellent pitch and phrasing." After finishing eighth, just before Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, JPL joined the 50-city American Idols Live tour in the summer of 2004, headlined by winner Fantasia.

 

The Nadas founding singer/songwriter duo of Walsmith and Mike Butterworth launched Authentic Records in the late 1990s with the goal of releasing music that deserves to be heard and that you deserve to hear. The label, known for their annual events at South by Southwest as well as their Nada Silent Night holiday benefit (featuring a roster-wide rendition of "Do They Know It's Christmas?"), is also known as a community of artists helping artists. Other Authentic acts include Dick Prall, Towncrier and the Tyler Thompson Band.

 

JPL will be hitting Nebraska, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, California, Florida and New York in the next few months, including the following upcoming dates: 

 

10/12 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Molly Malones 

11/1 -- Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy 

11/15 -- Cedar Falls, IA @ The Hub 

11/16 -- Davenport, IA @ The Redstone Room 

11/17 -- Des Moines, IA @ Little Big Fest 

11/18 -- Des Moines, IA @ AK O'Connor's

 

SOURCE Cockaroo Entertainment

 

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